She climbed out of her car, went inside the house and got ready for bed. For all that Dylan had said about wanting to be a part of everything, she’d never felt so alone in her life, nor so confused.
Would he be so keen, she wondered, if he knew exactly who she was and what her life had been like? It was hardly the stuff of Disney movies. Her father had come home from work one day when she was nine, to find Jenna alone after school—her mother having abandoned them to sail, from New Zealand and her family, with the outgoing tide and pursue her dream of being a singer on a cruise ship. He’d pulled up stakes by the time Jenna was ten, and taken her to his native U.S.A., where he’d told her again and again that they’d strike it lucky any time, and that happily-ever-after was just around the corner for them both.
Unfortunately, his idea of luck had been inextricably linked to fleecing older, vulnerable women of their wealth, and using his looks and charm to get away with it. Until one day he’d gone a step too far.
Jenna pushed the memory to the back of her mind, where it belonged. She’d learned the hard way what it meant to be an unwitting public figure, and how cruel the media could be. Given the Lassiter family profile, any relationship between her and Dylan would be bound to garner attention—attention she didn’t want or need. For her own sake, and that of her unborn baby, she would do whatever it took to keep a low profile.
She slid between the 800-thread-count bed linens she’d happily picked up in a clearance sale, and smoothed her feet and legs over the silky soft surface. She might not be in his league financially, but she didn’t do so badly. She could provide for her baby, who certainly wouldn’t want for anything. So what if some of their possessions were a little care-worn or threadbare or—Jenna grimaced in the dark, remembering Dylan’s reaction—secondhand. She would manage, and her private life would remain that way: private.
* * *
Dylan whistled cheerfully as he drove away from the classic car dealer, relishing the sensation of the wind ruffling his hair. The thrum of the V8 engine under the shiny red hood before him set up an answering beat in his blood. Today was a perfect day for a picnic and he had just the partner in mind to share it.
After swinging by the Grill to make sure everything was running smoothly, he put together some food and drink, checked the GPS on his phone and headed toward Jenna’s address, which he’d happily plucked from a phone book. He was curious to see where she lived—where she’d planned to raise their baby. Planned being in the past tense, because now that he was on the scene, he didn’t intend for them to live apart. All he needed to do was convince Jenna.
When he turned into her driveway he had to admit he was surprised at where she lived: it was a new neighborhood, the streets lined with modern homes. Skateboards, bikes and balls littered the front yards. He could see why she’d be comfortable here. Even though he hadn’t seen anyone yet, there was a sense of community and projected longevity about the area.
He saw curtains in windows on either side of her house twitch as he turned off the ignition and sat a moment in the car. A smile played at his lips. Neighborhood watch, no doubt. It was good to know Jenna had people looking out for her when he wouldn’t be.
Dylan got out of the car. He couldn’t wait to see her face. He strode up the path that led to the front door and pressed the doorbell. Nothing. He waited a minute and tried again.
“You looking for someone?” A woman’s voice came from over the well-trimmed hedge on one side of Jenna’s property.
“Yes, ma’am,” he answered with a smile that wiped the distrustful look off her face in an instant. “Is Jenna home?”
The woman blushed prettily. “She’s gardening out back. Just follow the path around the side of the house and you’ll find her.”
“Thank you.”
Clearly, he’d passed muster. He jangled the car keys in his hand as he made his way around to the rear of the house. It only took a minute to find her. She knelt by a raised bed of roses, pulling vigorously at the weeds and dumping them in a bucket beside her.
“That looks suspiciously like hard work. Need a break?”
Jenna jumped at his voice and looked up, using the back of her hand to push a few loose strands of hair from her eyes.
“No, thank you. This job isn’t going to do itself.”
“Why don’t you get someone else in to help?”
“Because first, I don’t have money to throw around like that, and second, I enjoy it.”
His eyes swept across her face, taking in the smear of dirt on her flushed cheek and the dark shadows that were painted beneath her eyes.
“If you tell me what to do, will you let me help for a while so I can take you out to play after we’re done?”
She looked startled for a minute. “Seriously?”
“Yeah, of course I’m serious.”
She pursed her lips a second, making him wish he could taste them again. Last night’s chaste kiss had done nothing but ignite a desire for more.
“You don’t really want to garden, do you.”
It was a statement, not a question. He shrugged. “I’d be lying if I said I did. But I’ll do what’s necessary to achieve my objective.”
Jenna narrowed her eyes. “And your objective is...?”
“Taking you out to lunch.”
“I’m not dressed for lunch.”
“That’s okay, I prepared a picnic.”
A wistful expression replaced the wariness in her eyes. “A picnic? I’ve never been on one of those.”
He couldn’t hide his shock. “Never?”
She shook her head.
“Then let me be the one to remedy that for you.” He stepped closer and took her hand in his, stripping off her gardening glove before doing the same with the other hand. “The weeds will still be here when we get back.”
“Unfortunately.”
“Then worry about them later. Come with me,” he coaxed. “Now.”
For a second she chewed at her lower lip, her gaze fixed on her hand still held in his.
“Shouldn’t you be at work? The grand opening’s not all that far away now, is it?”
“No, it’s not. I’ve already been by the Grill today. Everything’s under control. Besides, I’m the boss—when I say I need a bit of time out, I take it. So, are you coming?”
“Okay. But let me freshen up first.”
“No problem. I’ll meet you out front.”
As much as he was itching to step inside her small home, to see what things she’d chosen to surround herself with, he sensed he’d pushed enough for one day. That she’d agreed to come out on the picnic with him was a coup in itself, and he’d take that victory before reaching for the next one.
“Give me ten minutes, then,” she said, already walking toward the screened back door.
“No problem. Take all the time you need.”
The door slammed behind her and he took a moment to look around the garden. Here and there were splashes of color, interspersed among some midsize trees. It was a good backyard, as backyards went. But it wasn’t where his kid would grow up playing. Kids needed space—and he’d be providing it. Eventually.
* * *
Inside Jenna quickly changed from her tattered and dirty gardening gear into a T-shirt and jeans. To her surprise, she couldn’t fasten the top button on her jeans, which was something she’d been able to manage, barely, last week. That was one thing pregnancy definitely guaranteed—change, and plenty of it.
She washed her face and smoothed on some tinted moisturizer. It would probably be too much to apply her usual makeup, but she wasn’t going out with Dylan without feeling at least a little in control. She attempted a quick brush of her hair, but it was impossible to smooth the tangles that a sleepless night had wrought, so instead she carelessly swept it up and secured it with a few pins,
then tied a scarf around her head.
Surveying the results in the mirror, she allowed herself a grin of approval. Her T-shirt was long and loose-fitting, her bra made of sturdier material than last night’s. She’d be fine.
It took only a few seconds to lock up and head out the front door, but the instant her feet hit the porch she came to an abrupt halt. There, in her driveway, sat the car that had featured in all her fantasies. It was as if Dylan had reached into her mind and extracted the information himself, she thought, as she surveyed the fire-engine-red Cadillac convertible with whitewall tires and the top down. It was her dream car—right down to the red fluffy dice, twins to her own, hanging in front.
Dylan straightened from where he leaned against the passenger door, and flashed her a smile.
“You like it?”
Jenna forced herself to walk toward him, still locked in a state of disbelief.
“I love it. What...? How...?” She shook her head. “Did you hire it for the day or something?”
“No,” he said. “After you mentioned it last night I thought I’d look around online. I saw it this morning and bought it.”
“You bought it? Just like that?”
He lifted the keys and dangled them in front of her face. “You want to drive?”
“Do I!” She snatched the set from his hand and tossed her bag in the back before racing around to the driver’s side. She threw herself into the seat and ran her hands over the steering wheel and the dash. “I can’t believe it. You really bought this today?”
Dylan seated himself next to her with another one of those smiles that made her insides melt. “Sure did. Shall we give her a run? I was thinking we could head out to the Crystal Lake Reservoir, find a nice spot and have our picnic.”
It was at least a forty-minute drive to get there. She’d love every second of it.
“Let’s get going then,” she said, smiling back at him.
He stared at her, the smile on his face changing, his expression becoming more serious. He lifted a hand and touched her cheek with one finger.
“You’re so beautiful, you know that?”
Jenna didn’t know what to say. Her stomach clenched in reaction to his touch, to his softly spoken words. She wanted to refute it, but at the same time wanted to hold those words in a safe place in the corner of her heart, forever.
Dylan let his hand drop, breaking the spell. “C’mon,” he said, “let’s get this show on the road.”
The engine’s powerful roar when it turned over sent a shiver of happiness up her spine.
“I still can’t believe you bought this,” she said as she backed out the drive and onto the street. “That’s just so impulsive.”
“Why shouldn’t I?” He shrugged. “I bought it for you.”
Six
Dylan watched as her expression turned from one of sheer glee to one of horror. She jammed on the brakes, throwing him slightly forward.
“Whoa, there. Easy on the brakes, sweetheart.”
“Tell me you didn’t do that.”
“Didn’t do what?”
“Buy me this car.”
“If I did, I’d be lying.”
“I can’t accept it.” She shook her head vehemently. “That’s just crazy.”
“It is what it is.”
But he was walking on thin air. She was out of the car—leaving the engine still running, the driver’s door open—and standing on the sidewalk, her arms wrapped around herself in protection as if warding off some terrible pain.
Dylan shot out of the car and closed in on her, but she put up her hands, halting him in his tracks. What had he done? He could see her shaking from here.
“What is it? What’s wrong?”
“You’re trying to buy me, aren’t you?” Her voice quavered and her face was pale. “Trying to make me do what you want.”
“Jenna, the car’s a gift.”
“Some bloody gift!” she snapped, her eyes now burning as she looked at him squarely. “I know what a car like that is worth. You don’t just buy one in the morning and give it away by the afternoon.”
“Jenna, I’m hardly a poor man. I want to see you have nice things.”
“Why?”
He was confused. “Why?”
“Yes, why? Why me? Why now? As I said last night, we hardly know each other. We had sex once. We’re having a baby. That’s it. That’s all there is to us, and now you’re buying me a Cadillac?”
“Maybe I’m buying it just because I can. Maybe I need to prove to you that I can provide for you, that you don’t need to do all this on your own, that you don’t need to keep pushing me away. Yes, we’re having a baby—together. I know we’re doing this all back to front, but I want to get to know the mother of my kid. I want to see if we can be a couple.”
Jenna’s eyes flicked away from his, but not before he saw the sheen of tears reflected there. Before he could close the distance between them, the first drop spilled off a lash and tracked down her cheek. She lifted a hand and furiously scrubbed it, and those that followed, away.
“I don’t want the car,” she said adamantly, through clenched teeth. “I will not be bought.”
“Fine. I’ll take it back tomorrow. But can’t we just enjoy today? Take it for a spin. Enjoy it while we can?”
He tentatively put his arms around her, pulling her closer. She lifted her chin and blinked away the moisture in her eyes. She was one tough chick, that was for sure.
“Just for today?” she asked, her voice tight.
“Sure, if that’s what you want.”
“So it’s not mine anymore?”
“Nope.”
He felt a pang of regret that he’d have to say goodbye to the big red beast, but if that’s what it took to begin to win her trust, then that’s what he’d do. Jenna looked past him at the car and he could see the longing in her gaze. Even though she wanted it, she would still refuse it. Her moral ground remained solid, even in the face of a desire so hungry she was almost salivating with it.
“Jen?” he said, noticing that he wasn’t the only one with eyes on her right now. In fact, not only were curtains twitching, but there were faces appearing at windows, too.
“What?”
“I don’t want to rush you, but shall we go? We’re providing a bit of a show here.”
“Oh, God,” she groaned. Her lips firmed and she drew in a breath. “Fine, let’s go then. But you can drive.”
He didn’t argue. Instead he guided her around to the passenger side of the car and helped her into her seat before closing the door and heading to the driver’s side.
“You okay?” he said, reaching across the car to squeeze her hand.
“I’m fine. Just go, will you?”
“Whatever the lady wants.”
The trip to the reservoir was accomplished in silence. Dylan kept throwing surreptitious looks at Jenna during the journey and was relieved to note the tension in her body had begun to ease as they headed out of Cheyenne. As they wound along the route that led to the reservoir he kept an eye out for a place with a vantage point overlooking the lake. He gave a grunt of satisfaction when he found just the spot, and brought the car to a stop beneath some trees.
Through a gap between the trunks, the lake gleamed like highly polished mirrored glass, reflecting the surrounding rock formations and flora in a perfect echo of their surroundings.
Dylan got out of the car and opened the trunk, unloading a large rubber-backed blanket and a picnic hamper. He passed the blanket to Jenna.
“Here, find us a spot. I’ll bring the food and drinks.”
She took it without a word and headed a little closer to the water. When he joined her she’d spread it out in a sunny spot in a small clearing.
“I...I’m sorry. For before,” she said in a stilted tone. “I’m sure my reaction probably appeared over the top to you.”
“A little, but that’s okay. No apology needed.”
“No,” she said vehemently. “You were trying to be nice and I threw it back at you. I just...”
She averted her gaze out over the water, as if searching for something to draw strength from to help her get her words out. Dylan waited quietly, watching the internal battle reflected on her face.
“I just don’t like it when people think they can buy someone else with things, or when other people accept them.”
Dylan scratched his jaw as he played her words over in his mind. Sounded as if there was a story behind that statement. Would he ever hear it from her? He hoped so.
“Fair comment,” he answered, putting the hamper and the small drinks cooler down at the edge of the blanket. “And duly noted for future reference.”
“You’re mad at me, aren’t you?”
“Not mad. Disappointed, maybe, that you don’t feel you can accept the car from me, but hey, I’m a big boy now. I’ll get over it.”
And, he added silently, I’ll find a way through that wall of yours, one day.
He opened the cooler and handed Jenna a bottle of mineral water before snagging one for himself.
“Italian?” she asked, looking at the label. “Is there anything you do normally?”
“Define normally.”
She chewed on her lower lip a moment before speaking. “Well, inexpensively, then.”
“Why should I?”
“Because one day you might wish you had, for one. What if the bottom drops out of steak houses and the Lassiter Grill Corporation goes down with it?”
Dylan shook his head, a smile playing around his mouth. “It’ll never happen. People like food, especially good food. Plus, they’re more conscious these days of how their food is raised. The cattle on the Big Blue are free range and grass fed. Only nature’s goodness. The beef served in the Grills is the best in the country, probably the world, and I ensure our staff and our dishes live up to that promise.”
“You’re very confident.”
EXPECTING THE CEO'S CHILD Page 5